Cutting the cord!!

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Japp113 wrote:

My partner is having issues with the idea of him cutting the cord. He has a very weak stomach... like very weak. Is it kind of mandatory for him to be cutting the cord? My parents say he needs to man up but honestly I’m happy he will even be in the room. Is it okay for me to ask my sister to do this? I know the significance of it all but I don’t know if getting him to feel comfortable doing it is an option... just wondering if it’s weird to have someone else do this?

My husband wasn’t given the opportunity to cut the cord with our first. They were concerned about my son’s well being and had a NICU team in the room to assess him and they didn’t want to wait for him to cut the cord. There is no rule that the husband or really anyone must cut the cord. The doctor or nurse can do it, it’s really not that big of a deal who does it.

I’m a pediatrician and have been to hundreds of deliveries. A lot of dads don’t cut the cord...sometimes grandmas/grandpas/aunts cut it, other times it’s the medical team if no one wants to do it...no pressure!

My mom cut the cord for one of my nephews and regretted it. She didn’t have a weak stomach but she did say she will never be able to forget the feeling. So if your husband has a weak stomach I wouldn’t make him. I didn’t know there was any significance to it. I don’t think my husband cut our first pretty sure the doc did.

Totally not mandatory! My husband didn’t want to do it either when we talked about it in our birth plan. He ended up changing his mind and did cut the cord (he was so in awe of the whole experience that he was no longer eeked out by it). He said he has no regrets but was worried that he’d done it wrong and would somehow give our daughter a goofy belly button 😂

My husband did not want to cut cord and didn’t. Afterward I asked him why and he said “I’m not into hurting people” I was like WTF it doesn’t hurt the baby!!!! So maybe with this newfound info he will do it this time LOL

My husband can puke at the sight of the littlest thing that grosses him out. They even had an extra nurse stand behind him in the room during my c-section because he wanted to be there for the birth, but thought for sure he would pass out from it so we had warned my doctor and nurses ahead of time. He was so thrilled to see his baby he didn’t even think twice about my insides sitting on my chest and ran over right away to our daughter and cut her cord. They all congratulated him then for not throwing up or fainting. UH HELLO I’m cut open like a deer how about congratulating me? 😂 so.. I’m just saying, the situation may change when the time comes! That is IF your husband would like to actually try cutting the cord.

I’m an L&D nurse and a lot of dads (especially the weak stomach ones) do not cut the cord. Honestly, I have had several mommas cut the cord. I think it’s kind of cool. If it’s something you want to do, ask your doc if you can cut. The only way to describe the feeling of cutting it is that it is chewy. I know that’s a weird description but the only way to describe it. Think about doing it yourself!

Wow the responses!!! This honestly blew my mind. I’ve grown up thinking that it’s a fatherly duty to do this. I appreciate all of you for sharing your insight and experiences with me so I can feel a better about it. Thank you all SO much. Truly, it means a lot.

my husband also said he wouldn’t watch anything and he watched it all.... our daughters cord was too short and it had to be cut for her to even be brought to my chest so he didn’t have a chance to cut it! But it definitely isn’t mandatory.

My husband also has a very weak stomach and faints at the sight of blood. I was just happy he agreed to be in the room lol(side note he actually did awesome once everything started happening) He didn’t want to cut the cord from day 1 and I was totally fine with that. I’m a nurse and ended up cutting it myself which was special for me. I really don’t think it matters who cuts the cord so do whatever is best for you guys!